Frankfurt 2009: Mini Coupe & Roadster Concepts
by Noah Joseph on Sep 15th 2009 at 5:30AM 
MINI Coupe Concept and Roadster Concept - Click above for a high-res image gallery
Some automakers celebrate their birthdays with special editions. Some celebrate with big parties. Mini has celebrated its 50th anniversary at the Frankfurt Motor Show with not one, but two new performance-oriented models. Now that's more like it.
Okay, so they also unveiled a couple of special editions, called Camden and Mayfair. And they're throwing a little shindig at their show stand later on. But forget those for a minute and feast your eyes on the Coupe Concept and Roadster Concept. We've already brought you details on both, but the jubilant BMW division took the wraps – or rather, the cake – off the pair at a press conference here at the show. And while they were at it, they confirmed that both are headed for production, expanding the Mini line-up to no less than six models: hatch, cabrio, Clubman, the upcoming crossover and the Roadster and Coupe in question.
Whether the hounds-tooth interior on the Roadster makes it to production, however, remains to be seen. It'll take them a little while to gear up the Oxford factory, but given that both are essentially the same as the existing models below the belt-line, it shouldn't take all that long.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Flea 6:21AM (9/15/2009)
the roofline of the coupe is just....no.
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Noidor 10:59AM (9/15/2009)
I really like both of them. Low center of gravity will aid handling and styling looks more aggressive.
Way you guys need to think about it is if a customer walks into a Mini dealer and then he has option of not only engines, options, auto vs manual, but also body styles. Don't forget that Mini is a lifestyle brand therefore it gives a wide range of options who want a Mini vehicle.
It's also about keeping Mini brand fresh, vibrant and alive. It would be silly to rely on just two-three models hatch, cabrio, clubman to bring in additional crowd. Plus it's the economies of scale which allow BMW to ramp up production, create job growth in this tough market and still be able to sell out all these models.
At any given level, this is a good idea and I would love to drive the coupe. It looks great.
khaosmatrix 9:27PM (9/15/2009)
So are we to expect the Mini convertible to be the most expensive mini. I will love to see how the the two convertibles will sell with a expected huge price difference. Here is a four seat convertible at "x" dollars but if money is no object here is the new sexy two seat convertible
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Hike15 7:20AM (9/15/2009)
I don't get the point....what the difference that makes these and better or worse than the regular mini cooper?
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Sofa King Fast! 9:09AM (9/15/2009)
I was going to say the same thing.
I really don't understand why anyone would buy one of these cars instead of a standard Mini.
BMW must have so much money they can't figure out how to spend it.
travisty 12:20PM (9/15/2009)
Lower, lighter, smaller (although it does ride on the same wheelbase). If it's priced similarly to the Cooper series, I'll rock the S version of the coupe in a heartbeat. I don't need the diminutive rear seats in the Cooper. Shed those, drop 150-200lbs, and make a more streamlined vehicle? Sounds like a perfect vehicle to me...
Basically the Scirocco version of the Golf/GTI. The only difference is that we might actually get this one.
(Note, if MINI tries to do a JCW-only version of this, or prices it higher than the Cooper series my interest goes from dropping off a deposit ASAP to "meh". If it's a couple grand more than the MCS, I'll just get the MCS and do my own weight reduction to it. The extra couple grand would go nicely into making it faster than the Coupe version anyway...)
travisty 12:22PM (9/15/2009)
also, can someone from AB confirm that the coupe is a liftback (similar to the Scion tC), or is that really just a tiny, tiny, TINY trunk?
spyker 7:35AM (9/15/2009)
That Roadster looks nice, I wonder what the specs are.
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ack154 7:41AM (9/15/2009)
Ya... we know. Just like it was already reported on THIS car website. Shove off!
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ack154 7:42AM (9/15/2009)
The Roadster with the top up = meh.
Will you be able to get a different color roof on the Coupe? Black? That might help.
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Javanese 7:59AM (9/15/2009)
I must say, the roadster is rather fetching....
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Seminole 8:00AM (9/15/2009)
I love Mini's, and if there was a dealer where I lived I would have bought one. But I don't really see the point of these, besides diluting the Mini brand.
So these two will probably cost more than their comparable Hatch and Convertible counterparts. Not only that, but they are even less practical than a normal Mini. Aside from looks, which are sort of questionable with the Coupe, there is really no reason to get one of these over the normal Minis.
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Den in IN 8:31AM (9/15/2009)
I dunno, this becomes more or less a Miata like thing. Having both in the garage (well the Miata is at work with me) I don't think the Mini will make a very good Miata any more than a hatchback Miata would be a Mini. They are just so different, the two seat Mini just looses the appeal.
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Rocketboy 8:48AM (9/15/2009)
I just wish the windscreen rake wasn't so severe. It should be more straight up. Nothing like having a chunk of metal inches away from your forehead in a droptop.
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Chicken 9:03AM (9/15/2009)
Could just be the pics, but it looks like you have to be under 5'3" to fit in this roadster with the top up. Maybe even shorter. Not a car for claustraphobics....
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Mike 9:05AM (9/15/2009)
OK, So BMW figured out how to make a CRX, only uglier, yet somehow cooler. As much as I dig the idea of the current MINIs they are still front drivers and therefore not something I would want since getting my first RX-7 in the late 80s. Still, there was a time in my life when a CRX Si was something I really, really wanted and for folks at that stage in their life I am sure this will carry the same appeal.
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Henreh 9:26AM (9/15/2009)
cept this is probably twice the price of a CRX Si
Rich 10:40AM (9/15/2009)
Oops. Oh well.
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Carlos 12:18PM (9/15/2009)
Leave it to BMW to come up with some crazy small niche that will probably in a few years be nonexistent. Instead of being avant garde why not make the Cooper better and figure out ways to increase your scales of economy like sharing a chassis with another small car company so that way you can be more profitable.
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Believe It 12:54PM (9/16/2009)
This is one of those cars that has to be seen in person before it truly makes sense (or not). I'm a big fan of the Mini brand, but I have to admit I'm skeptical right now. Line the car up next to the standard Cooper, and you'll see that there is a lot of carryover -- wheelbase, key details like the black cladding around the wheel wells, and so on. Adding an air scoop (functional?) at the back of the door is interesting, but it's a minor note. The interrupted roofline on the Coupe shows they're at least trying to set off the design in uncharted ways. The execution is ... questionable.
A lot of us Cooper owners are scratching our heads. I'm hoping that it will all come together, similar to the s-l-o-w rollout of the Clubman. Until then, can we get some interior shots?
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